3.Scar Creams Product Review - Scarguard

Detailed Score

Scarguard

Scarguard is a trusted scar reduction product that has remained viable and relevant throughout the years. While it isn't the panacea for all scarring issues, it is effective in reducing the appearance of raised scars and some skin discolorations.

Product and Treatment Explanation

Scarguard is essentially a paint-on silicone sheet that contains cortisone and vitamin E. These ingredients have been a part of scar treatments for years, but individually, they all come with their own pitfalls; nobody wants to get a cortisone shot, regular silicone sheets are unsightly and awkward, and vitamin E treatments are mostly ineffective by themselves. Scarguard offers the benefits of these methods (which have been clinically proven to work) without the detriments.

Except for vitamin E, the purpose of these ingredients is to stimulate the production of collagenase, a naturally-produced enzyme that dissolves existing scar tissue. We will go over the scientific details of the treatment later in the article.

Treatment is very easy. First, wait until any open wounds have healed and all stitches are out. This product is certainly more effective while scar tissue is still forming -- in fact, it does not contain an exfoliator to help with existing scars -- but you still don't want to get it in your bloodstream. Then you simply apply a thin film to the scarred area twice per day. It might have a strong odor, but this fades quickly. It dries within seconds and is intended to stay on throughout any typical daily activity such as swimming, sweating, and light abrasion. You can use scotch tape to peel off the old layer before reapplication, or you can just scrape it off with something. It's possible to apply a new layer over an old layer if removal is uncomfortable, but this will give the film a whitish tint over time.

It's important to note that this product is primarily intended for the reduction of scar tissue. This means that if you have pitted scars (such as acne scars), Scarguard might not be right for you. In fact, it might make the problem worse by making the pit deeper. You should only use it on raised scars.

Besides the main scar reduction product, pigmentation treatments are also available if your scarring has become discolored. Note that purple or red scarring is often caused by the unnecessary growth of blood vessels and may not respond to this product. The company boasts a solid line of cosmetic skin products that can reduce bruising, eye circles, and other dark spots.

Pricing and Value of Product

Considering the fact that Scarguard is so widely recommended by doctors, a price tag of around 25 dollars per bottle is a great deal. One bottle goes a long way as you only need to apply a thin film over your scars. Of course, this depends on how severe your scarring is, but most people probably won't find themselves refilling extremely often.

Pros and Cons

Pros

It's effective. Scarguard is the number-one most recommended scar treatment by doctors. Every aspect of the product has been clinically proven (rather than simply suggested or proposed) to have an effect on scar tissue. It's been around for a while now and has earned a good reputation.

It's easy. All you have to do is apply it and wait. Compared to treatments like silicone pads or gels, it is very convenient and hassle-free.

It's over-the-counter. While it used to be prescription-only, you can now order Scarguard online.

It's a great value. For a scar treatment that actually works, the price can't be beaten.

Cons

Some customers have found that it is slightly more intrusive in their daily lives than it is advertised to be. For example, if you have facial scarring, you might not be able to apply makeup over the film. It might also fall off a little easier or be more visible than you expect. Some have reported finding "flakes" around their house after using this product. Luckily, these are minor inconveniences given the payoff.

As with many online merchants, there have been some problems with acquiring refunds, receiving the wrong product, et cetera.

It is only intended for use on raised scars. Lowered scars require a different treatment that actually adds collagen instead of removing it.

Science Behind the Product

If your body were to produce scar tissue without having the ability to reduce it, scar tissue growing on your joints would hinder the joint's ability to bend. For this reason, stretching and bending scar tissue -- as if it were on a moving joint -- stimulates the production of collagenase, an enzyme that reduces collagen and reduces that scar tissue enough so that you are still able to use the joint. Thanks to the many miracles of medical technology, we are now able to use several techniques to stimulate the production of collagenase at will.

The most primitive way to do it is to deliberately apply pressure to the scar tissue to simulate the bending of a joint and trick your body into producing collagenase. Victims of severe burns are wrapped up in "pressure garments" that do exactly this. Silicone pads do the same thing in a more localized area. Silicone is very effective at transmitting pressure, but the pads are extremely inconvenient to use. Scarguard solves this problem by being a thin silicone film rather than looking like a large and unsightly bandage.

Cortisone is a chemical that directly stimulates the production of collagenase without any manipulation of the skin. For scar reduction, it is normally given in shot form, but it is present in Scarguard as a topical treatment.

This combination of ingredients is, in a nutshell, the entire appeal of Scarguard. It is simply several already-proven treatments used in conjunction and more conveniently than any of them could be used separately.